Rivers and Gates have hooked up 85 times for touchdowns, tying Steve Young and Jerry Rice for the second-most all-time.

Only Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison (112) connected for more touchdowns.

Gates, who was undrafted in 2003 after playing basketball at Kent State, has averaged eight touchdowns per season and ranks third in receiving yards among tight ends behind on Gonzalez and Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.

He surpassed 900 career receptions earlier in Sunday's game and is just the 22nd player in NFL history to reach that plateau.

Gonzalez, who retired following the 2013 season, ended his 12-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons with 1325 receptions for 15,127 yards and 111 touchdowns. Witten caught seven passes for 59 yards and a score in the Dallas Cowboys' 19-3 win over the New York Giants last week to give him 1,096 catches for 11,947 yards and 64 touchdowns.